Electronic device, non-transitory storage medium, and control method for electronic device

ABSTRACT

An electronic device includes a position detection module configured to detect a touch position on a display surface of a display module touched by a user; a position data output module configured to output first position data and second position data based on position data on the touch positions detected by the position detection module; and a display control module configured to control the display module based on the first position data or the second position data output from the position data output module. The first position data is position data obtained by averaging position data on the touch positions respectively detected at detection timings. The second position data is position data on the touch position detected at individual detection timing. The display control module selects the first position data or the second position data to control the display module, based on a predetermined selection condition.

This application is a bypass continuation of international patentapplication PCT/JP2013/006440 filed May 24, 2013, entitled “ELECTRONICDEVICE HAVING TOUCH DETECTION FUNCTION, PROGRAM, AND CONTROL METHOD FORELECTRONIC DEVICE HAVING TOUCH DETECTION FUNCTION”, which claimspriority to Japanese Patent Application No. 2012-119497 filed May 25,2012, entitled “ELECTRONIC DEVICE HAVING TOUCH DETECTION FUNCTION,PROGRAM, AND CONTROL METHOD FOR ELECTRONIC DEVICE HAVING TOUCH DETECTIONFUNCTION”. The disclosure of each of the above is incorporated herein byreference in its entirety.

BACKGROUND

1. Technical Field

Embodiments of the present disclosure relate to an electronic device,such as a mobile telephone, a PDA (Personal Digital Assistant), a tabletPC, an electronic book terminal, a mobile music player, and a portableTV. Embodiments of the present disclosure also relate to anon-transitory storage medium, and a control method suitable for use inthe electronic device.

2. Disclosure of Related Art

Conventionally, there is known a mobile telephone provided with a touchpanel on a display surface, and configured to execute variousapplication programs (hereinafter, simply called as “applications”),based on a user's touch operation with respect to the display surface.In the mobile telephone, it is possible to provide a configuration, inwhich position data on a touch positions at different detection timingsis averaged, and a process based on the touch operation is executed withuse of the averaged position data in order to prevent erroneousdetection due to noise or finger displacement.

SUMMARY

An electronic device according to a first aspect is provided with adisplay module configured to display, on a display surface, a screen onwhich a touch operation is performed; a position detection moduleconfigured to detect a touch position on the display surface touched bya user; a position data output module configured to output firstposition data and second position data based on position data on thetouch positions detected by the position detection module; and a displaycontrol module configured to control the display module based on thefirst position data or the second position data output from the positiondata output module. In this configuration, the first position data isposition data obtained by averaging position data on the touch positionsrespectively detected at detection timings. The second position data isposition data on the touch position detected at individual detectiontiming, or position data obtained by averaging position data on thetouch positions respectively detected at detection timings whose numberis smaller than the number of detection timings used in obtaining thefirst position data. The display control module selects the firstposition data or the second position data to control the display module,based on a predetermined selection condition.

A second aspect of the disclosure relates to a non-transitory storagemedium holding a program for a computer to be applied to an electronicdevice. The electronic device is provided with a display moduleconfigured to display, on a display surface, a screen on which a touchoperation is performed; a position detection module configured to detecta touch position on the display surface touched by a user; and aposition data output module configured to output first position data andsecond position data based on position data on the touch positionsdetected by the position detection module. The first position data isposition data obtained by averaging position data on the touch positionsrespectively detected at detection timings. The second position data isposition data on the touch position detected at individual detectiontiming, or position data obtained by averaging position data on thetouch positions respectively detected at detection timings whose numberis smaller than the number of detection timings used in obtaining thefirst position data. The program according to the second aspect providesthe computer of the electronic device with: a function of controllingthe display module based on the first position data or the secondposition data output from the position data output module, and afunction of selecting the first position data or the second positiondata to control the display module, based on a predetermined selectioncondition.

A third aspect of the disclosure relates to a control method for anelectronic device. The electronic device is provided with a displaymodule configured to display, on a display surface, a screen on which atouch operation is performed; a position detection module configured todetect a touch position on the display surface touched by a user; and aposition data output module configured to output first position data andsecond position data based on position data on the touch positionsdetected by the position detection module. The first position data isposition data obtained by averaging position data on the touch positionsrespectively detected at detection timings. The second position data isposition data on the touch position detected at individual detectiontiming, or position data obtained by averaging position data on thetouch positions respectively detected at detection timings whose numberis smaller than the number of detection timings used in obtaining thefirst position data. The control method according to the third aspectincludes selecting the first position data or the second position datato control the display module, based on a predetermined selectioncondition; and controlling the display module based on the selectedposition data.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These and other objects, and novel features of the present disclosurewill become more apparent upon reading the following detaileddescription of the embodiment along with the accompanying drawings.

FIGS. 1A and 1B are diagrams showing a configuration of a mobiletelephone according to a first embodiment;

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an entire configuration of the mobiletelephone according to the first embodiment;

FIGS. 3A and 3B are diagrams respectively showing a classification listand a screen information table according to the first embodiment;

FIGS. 4A and 4B are flowcharts respectively showing a position dataswitching process and a display control process according to the firstembodiment;

FIGS. 5A and 5B are diagrams for describing a position data switchingprocess according to a modification of the first embodiment;

FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing an entire configuration of a mobiletelephone according to a second embodiment;

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing a display control process according to thesecond embodiment;

FIG. 8 is a diagram for describing various operation examples to beperformed with respect to a display surface according to the secondembodiment;

FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing a display control process according to amodification of the second embodiment; and

FIGS. 10A and 10B are diagrams for describing another modification.

The drawings are provided mainly for describing the present disclosure,and do not limit the scope of the present disclosure.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

In the following description, a control module 11 corresponds to a“display control module” in the claims. A touch panel 14 a correspondsto a “position detection module” in the claims. A panel controller 14 bcorresponds to a “position data output module” in the claims. Thedescription regarding the correspondence between the claims and theembodiments is merely an example, and the claims are not limited by thedescription of the embodiments.

<First Embodiment>

FIGS. 1A and 1B are diagrams showing a configuration of a mobiletelephone 1. FIG. 1A and FIG. 1B are respectively a front view and arear view.

In the following, to simplify the description, as shown in FIGS. 1A and1B, the lengthwise direction of a cabinet 2 is defined as up and downdirections, and the shortwise direction of the cabinet 2 is defined asleft and right directions.

The mobile telephone 1 includes the cabinet 2, a display surface 3, amicrophone 4, the communication speaker 5, a key operation part 6, andan external speaker 7.

The cabinet 2 has an almost rectangular outline as viewed from the frontside. The cabinet 2 includes on a front surface thereof a displaysurface 3 of a display module which is described later. The displaysurface 3 has a rectangular contour.

The microphone 4 is disposed within the cabinet 2 at a lower end partthereof, and the communication speaker 5 is disposed within the cabinet2 at an upper end part thereof. Sounds are input into the microphone 4through a microphone hole 4 a formed in a front surface of the cabinet2. The microphone 4 generates electric signals according to the inputsounds. Sounds are mainly output from the communication speaker 5. Theoutput sounds are released to the outside via an output hole 5 a formedin the front surface of the cabinet 2.

The cabinet 2 includes a key operation part 6 on the front surface. Thekey operation part 6 includes a plurality of operation keys. Theoperation keys are hard keys, for instance. Various functions areassigned to the respective operation keys in accordance with a programbeing executed or the like.

The cabinet 2 includes the external speaker 7 therewithin. The cabinet 2has on the back surface thereof an output hole 7 a corresponding to theexternal speaker 7. Sounds (voices, notification sounds, and the like)output from the external speaker 7 are released to the outside via theoutput hole 7 a.

A screen on which an operation is performed, such as various applicationexecution screens, is displayed on the display surface 3. The user isallowed to perform touch operations of various types by touching thedisplay surface 3 with the fingertip, a touch pen, or the like(hereinafter, simply called as “the finger”).

Examples of the touch operations of various types include a tapoperation, a long tap operation, a flick operation, and a slideoperation. The tap operation is an operation of touching the displaysurface 3 with the finger, followed by releasing the finger from thedisplay surface 3 within a short time. The long tap operation is anoperation of keeping the finger to touch with the display surface 3 fora predetermined time or longer, followed by releasing the finger fromthe display surface 3. The flick operation is an operation of flickingthe display surface 3 with the finger in any direction. The slideoperation is an operation of moving the finger in any direction on thedisplay surface 3 while keeping the finger in contact with the displaysurface 3.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of an entire configuration of the mobiletelephone 1. The mobile telephone 1 includes a control module 11, astorage module 12, a display module 13, a touch detection module 14, asound input module 15, a sound output module 16, a sound processingmodule 17, a key input module 18, and a communication module 19.

The storage module 12 includes a ROM, a RAM and the like. The storagemodule 12 stores various programs. The programs stored in the storagemodule 12 include control programs for controlling components of themobile telephone 1 and various applications (for telephone, e-mail, map,game, schedule management, for example).

The storage module 12 is also used as a working area in which data to betemporarily used or generated is stored when a program is executed.

The control module 11 includes a CPU and the like. The control module 11controls components (the storage module 12, the display module 13, thetouch detection module 14, the sound input module 15, the sound outputmodule 16, the sound processing module 17, the key input module 18, thecommunication module 19, and others) constituting the mobile telephone 1according to the programs.

The display module 13 includes a liquid crystal display and the like.The display module 13 displays an image (screen) on the display surface3 according to a control signal and an image signal from the controlmodule 11. The display module 13 is not limited to the liquid crystaldisplay but may be any other display device such as an organic ELdisplay.

The touch detection module 14 is provided with a touch panel 14 a and apanel controller 14 b. The touch panel 14 a is formed into a transparentsheet-like member, and is disposed on the front surface of the cabinet 2in such a manner as to cover the display surface 3. The touch panel 14 adetects contact of the finger with the display surface 3 at apredetermined sampling period. The touch panel 14 a may be a touch panelof any type such as an electrostatic capacitive type, an ultrasonictype, a pressure sensitive type, a resistive film type, or aphotosensitive type.

As shown in FIG. 1A, there is set an orthogonal coordinate system, onthe display surface 3, such that the lowermost and leftmost corner ofthe display surface 3 is defined as the origin, left-and-rightdirections are defined as X-axis, and up-and-down directions are definedas Y-axis. When the finger touches the display surface 3, a coordinatevalue representing a touch position on the display surface 3 issuccessively output from the touch panel 14 a to the panel controller 14b at a predetermined sampling period, as position data on the touchposition.

The panel controller 14 b has two output modes, i.e., a single data modeand an average data mode. The output mode is set by a command signalfrom the control module 11. When the single data mode is set, the panelcontroller 14 b directly outputs, to the control module 11, positiondata (hereinafter, called as “single position data”) output from thetouch panel 14 a at each sampling timing. When the average data mode isset, the panel controller 14 b executes an averaging process ofaveraging single position data output from the touch panel 14 a atsampling timings, and outputs the averaged position data (hereinafter,called as “average position data”) to the control module 11. Averageposition data corresponds to first position data in the claims, andsingle position data corresponds to second position data in the claims.

Single position data is started to be output from the touch detectionmodule 14 immediately after a touch position is detected for the firsttime. On the other hand, average position data is subjected to anaveraging process. Accordingly, the average position data is started tobe output from the touch detection module 14 at a time after elapse of atime required for the averaging process from detection of the touchposition for the first time.

The sound input module 15 includes the microphone 4 and the like. Thesound input module 15 outputs electric signals from to the microphone 4to the sound processing module 17.

The sound output module 16 includes the communication speaker 5, theexternal speaker 7, and others. The sound output module 16 receives anelectric signal from the sound processing module 17, and outputs sound(voice, notification sound, and the like) from the communication speaker5 or from the external speaker 7.

The sound processing module 17 subjects an electric signal from thesound input module 15 to A/D conversion and the like, and outputs aconverted digital sound signal to the control module 11. The soundprocessing module 17 subjects the digital sound signal from the controlmodule 11 to a decoding process and D/A conversion and the like, andoutputs a converted electric signal to the sound output module 16.

When any of the operation keys in the key operation part 6 is pressed,the key input module 18 outputs a signal corresponding to the pressedoperation key to the control module 11.

To perform telephone calls and data communications, the communicationmodule 19 includes a circuit for signal conversion, an antenna for radiowave transmission/reception, and the like. The communication module 19converts a signal for telephone calls or data communications output fromthe control module 11 into a radio signal, and transmits the convertedradio signal via the antenna to a base station or another communicationdevice or the like as a destination of communications. Furthermore, thecommunication module 19 also converts radio signals received via theantenna into a signal in a form capable of being used by the controlmodule 11, and outputs the converted signal to the control module 11.

The control module 11 executes a position data switching process forswitching the position data to be output from the touch detection module14 between single position data and average position data in accordancewith an application to be executed. Further, the control module 11executes a display control process with respect to the display module13, based on position data (single position data, average position data)output from the touch detection module 14.

FIG. 3A is a diagram showing a classification list 12 a for use in theposition data switching process. FIG. 3B is a diagram showing a screeninformation table 12 b for use in the display control process.

The storage module 12 stores the classification list 12 a. As shown inFIG. 3A, in the classification list 12 a, applications loaded in themobile telephone 1 are classified into applications that require aposition data averaging process, and applications that do not require aposition data averaging process. The applications that require anaveraging process are applications (hereinafter, called as“reliability-inclined applications”), in which reliability of a touchoperation is required to be enhanced by reducing an influence of noiseor finger displacement. The applications that do not require anaveraging process are applications (hereinafter, called as“followability-inclined applications”), in which followability inoperation of the mobile telephone 1 with respect to a touch operation isrequired to be enhanced, as compared with reliability of a touchoperation, because an influence of noise or finger displacement issmall.

As shown in FIG. 3A, examples of the reliability-inclined applicationsare a drawing application and a web browser application. Examples of thefollowability-inclined applications are a home application and a galleryapplication.

When the drawing application is used, the user draws a picture on thedisplay surface 3 by moving the finger on the display surface 3.Accordingly, it is necessary to prevent blur of a line drawn on thedisplay surface 3 due to finger displacement or the like. Manyinformation items are displayed on a web screen to be displayed on thedisplay surface by a web browser application. As a result, imagesserving as targets for a touch operation such as a search button and ahypertext (a text in which a hyperlink is set), which are included inthe web screen, have a relatively small size. Accordingly, when the webbrowser application is used, it is necessary to securely detect a touchoperation with respect to a small image on a screen.

The home application is an application for use in displaying a homescreen on the display surface 3. When the home application is used, theuser may scroll a screen by a flick operation or a slide operation inorder to select an intended icon from among a variety of icons disposedon the home screen. The gallery application is an application formanaging photographs and videos. When the gallery application is used,the user may scroll a screen by a flick operation or a slide operationin order to select an intended thumbnail image on a screen on whichthumbnail images such as photographs and videos are listed. When thehome application and the gallery application are used, it is desirablefor the user to quickly scroll a screen by a flick operation or a slideoperation.

The screen information table 12 b relating to a screen to be displayedis configured in the storage module 12 when the screen is displayed onthe display module 13. The screen information table 12 b is updated inaccordance with updating of the screen. As shown in FIG. 3B, the screeninformation table 12 b stores, regarding component images constituting ascreen such as icons and background images, area data representing aposition/area of each component image residing on the display surface 3,a touch operation assigned to each component image, and processingcontents corresponding to a touch operation. In the case where there isa component image that does not serve as a target for a touch operation,such as a background image of a screen that is not scrolled, datarelating to a touch operation, and data relating to processing contentsare not stored in the respective columns (storage areas) of the touchoperation and of the processing contents in the screen information table12 b.

FIG. 4A is a flowchart showing the position data switching process. Inthe following, the position data switching process is described.

When the mobile telephone 1 is activated, first of all, the homeapplication is activated by the control module 11, and a home screen isdisplayed on the display surface 3. When a tap operation of an intendedicon is performed on the home screen, the application corresponding tothe operated icon is activated by the control module 11, and anexecution screen is displayed on the display surface 3.

When the home application or other application is activated (S101: YES),the control module 11 determines whether the activated application is anapplication that requires a position data averaging process, referringto the classification list 12 a (S102).

When it is determined that the activated application is an applicationthat requires an averaging process, such as a web browser application ora drawing application (S102: YES), the control module 11 selects averageposition data as position data for use in control of the display module13, and outputs, to the touch detection module 14, a command signal forsetting the output mode of the panel controller 14 b to the average datamode (S103). The output mode of the panel controller 14 b is set to theaverage data mode, and average position data is output from the panelcontroller 14 b to the control module 11.

On the other hand, when it is determined that the activated applicationis an application that does not require an averaging process such as ahome application or a gallery application (S102: NO), the control module11 selects single position data, as position data for use in control ofthe display module 13, and outputs, to the touch detection module 14, acommand signal for setting the output mode of the panel controller 14 bto the single data mode (S104). The output mode of the panel controller14 b is set to the single data mode, and single position data is outputfrom the panel controller 14 b to the control module 11.

When the process of Step S103 or Step S104 is executed, the flowchartreturns to the process of Step S101. The control module 11 monitorswhether a new application has been activated (S101).

FIG. 4B is a flowchart showing the display control process. In thefollowing, the display control process is described.

When a user's touch operation is performed, the control module 11acquires position data from the touch detection module 14 (S201). Whenthe output mode is set to the average data mode, the control module 11acquires average position data from the touch detection module 14; andwhen the output mode is set to the single data mode, the control module11 acquires single position data from the touch detection module 14.When the user's touch operation is being performed, the control module11 successively acquires the average position data or the singleposition data.

The control module 11 determines a component image for which a touchoperation has been performed referring to the screen information table12 b, and determines the type of the touch operation, based on theacquired position data (S202). For instance, when a touch position isnot detected within a predetermined first time after the touch positionhas been detected, the control module 11 determines that a tap operationhas been performed. When a touch position is continued to be detectedfor a predetermined second time or longer after the touch position hasbeen detected, and thereafter, the touch position is not detected anylonger, the control module 11 determines that a long tap operation hasbeen performed. When a touch position is moved by a predetermined firstdistance or longer within a predetermined third time after the touchposition has been detected, and thereafter, the touch position is notdetected any longer, the control module 11 determines that a flickoperation has been performed. When a touch position is moved by apredetermined second distance or longer after the touch position hasbeen detected, the control module 11 determines that a slide operationhas been performed.

The control module 11 executes a process assigned to a component imagefor which a touch operation has been performed, and to the type of thetouch operation, referring to the screen information table 12 b, andupdates the screen of the display module 13 (S203).

For instance, when a slide operation is performed with respect to abackground image on a home screen, the control module 11 updates thescreen of the display module 13 in such a manner that the screen isscrolled in accordance with the movement of the finger. When the homeapplication is executed, single position data is used for control of thedisplay module 13. Accordingly, the mobile telephone can quickly scrollthe screen in response to the movement of the finger.

For instance, when the finger slides on the display surface 3 on adrawing application execution screen, the control module 11 successivelyupdates the screen of the display module 13 in such a manner that a lineis drawn along the trajectory of the finger in accordance with themovement of the finger. When the drawing application is executed,average position data is used for control of the display module 13. Thismakes it possible to draw a clear line, while suppressing linedisplacement, even when the finger is slightly displaced during asliding operation.

As described above, according to the first embodiment, position datasuitable for an application to be executed is used for detecting a touchoperation, out of the single position data and the average positiondata. This is advantageous in enhancing reliability of a touchoperation, while preventing lowering of followability.

<Modification of First Embodiment>

FIGS. 5A and 5B are diagrams for describing a position data switchingprocess according to a modification. FIG. 5A is a diagram showing aclassification list 12 a in the modification. FIG. 5B is a flowchartshowing the position data switching process in the modification.

In the first embodiment, the panel controller 14 b has, as output modes,the average data mode in which average position data is output, and thesingle data mode in which single position data is output.

In the modification, a panel controller 14 b has, as output modes, ahigh average data mode and a low average data mode. In the high averagedata mode, pieces of single position data whose number is larger thanthe number of data pieces in the low average data mode are averaged by ahigh-level averaging process, and the averaged position data(hereinafter, called as “high average position data”) is output. In thelow average data mode, pieces of single position data whose number issmaller than the number of data pieces in the high average data mode areaveraged by a low-level averaging process, and the averaged positiondata (hereinafter, called as “low average position data”) is output. Adelay time until low average position data is output after singleposition data is output for the first time is shortened, as comparedwith a delay time when high average position data is output.

High average position data corresponds to first position data in theclaims, and low average position data corresponds to second positiondata in the claims.

As shown by the classification list 12 a in FIG. 5A, the high-levelaveraging process is applied to reliability-inclined applications suchas a drawing application and a web browser application, and thelow-level averaging process is applied to followability-inclinedapplications such as a home application and a gallery application.

The position data switching process in the modification is describedreferring to the flowchart of FIG. 5B.

When an application is activated (S111: YES), a control module 11determines whether the activated application is an application thatrequires the high level averaging process, referring to theclassification list 12 a (S112).

When it is determined that the activated application is an applicationthat requires the high level averaging process (S112: YES), the controlmodule 11 selects high average position data, as position data for usein control of a display module 13, and outputs, to a touch detectionmodule 14, a command signal for setting the output mode of the panelcontroller 14 b to the high average data mode (S113). The output mode ofthe panel controller 14 b is set to the high average data mode, and highaverage position data is output from the panel controller 14 b to thecontrol module 11.

On the other hand, when it is determined that the activated applicationis an application that does not require the high level averaging process(S112: NO), the control module 11 selects low average position data, asposition data for use in control of the display module 13, and outputs,to the touch detection module 14, a command signal for setting theoutput mode of the panel controller 14 b to the low average data mode(S114). The output mode of the panel controller 14 b is set to the lowaverage data mode, and low average position data is output from thepanel controller 14 b to the control module 11.

As described above, the modification is also advantageous in enhancingreliability of a touch operation, while preventing lowering offollowability, as well as the first embodiment. However, the effect ofpreventing lowering of followability may be slightly lowered, andreliability of a touch operation may be slightly enhanced, as a whole,as compared with the first embodiment.

<Second Embodiment>

In the first embodiment, an application program to be executed is set asa selection condition, and average position data or single position datais selected as position data for use in control of the display module13, based on the application program to be executed.

In the second embodiment, a status of a screen regarding an initialtouch position (touch position for the first time) to be detected by atouch panel 14 a when a touch operation is performed, and regarding thevicinity of the initial touch position, is defined as a selectioncondition for selecting position data. Specifically, the selectioncondition includes judgments as to whether a target image other than atarget image residing at the initial touch position is present within apredetermined area from the initial touch position, whether the size ofthe target image residing at the initial touch position is equal to orsmaller than a predetermined threshold value, and whether a touchoperation for scrolling a screen is assigned to the target imageresiding at the initial touch position.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing an entire configuration of a mobiletelephone 1.

In the embodiment, there is not provided a configuration, in which theoutput mode of a panel controller 14 b is switched by a command signalfrom a control module 11. Average position data and single position dataare output from the panel controller 14 b to the control module 11 inthe same period. However, the average position data is subjected to anaveraging process. Accordingly, output of the average position data isstarted with a delay with respect to output of the single position data.

The screen information table 12 b shown in FIG. 3B is configured in astorage module 12 when a screen is displayed on a display surface 3, aswell as the first embodiment.

The other configuration is substantially the same as the firstembodiment.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing a display control process.

When the user performs a touch operation, and single position datarepresenting an initial touch position is output for the first time froma touch detection module 14, the control module 11 acquires thefirst-time single position data (S301).

The control module 11 determines whether a component image (hereinafter,called as a “target image”) serving as a target for a touch operation ispresent at an initial touch position, referring to the screeninformation table 12 b, based on the acquired single position data(S302). When it is determined that the target image is present (S302:YES), the control module 11 determines whether a target image other thanthe target image residing at the initial touch position is presentwithin a predetermined area from the initial touch position (S303). Whenit is determined that another target image is not present (S303: NO),the control module 11 determines whether the size of the target imageresiding at the initial touch position is equal to or smaller than apredetermined threshold value, based on area data on the target imageresiding at the initial touch position (S304). When the size of thetarget image is not equal to or smaller than the predetermined thresholdvalue (S304: NO), the control module 11 determines whether a touchoperation for scrolling a screen is assigned to the target imageresiding at the initial touch position (S305).

When it is determined that another target image is present within thepredetermined area from the initial touch position (S303: YES), or whenthe size of the target image is equal to or smaller than thepredetermined threshold value (S304: YES), or when a touch operation forscrolling a screen is not assigned to the target image (S305: NO), thecontrol module 11 selects average position data which is started to beoutput with a delay with respect to the output of single position data,as position data for use in control of a display module 13, andsuccessively acquires the average position data during a time periodwhen the instant touch operation is performed (S306).

On the other hand, when it is determined that another target image isnot present within the predetermined area from the initial touchposition (S303: NO), and when the size of the target image is not equalto or smaller than the predetermined threshold value (S304: NO), andwhen a touch operation for scrolling a screen is assigned to the targetimage (S305: YES), the control module 11 selects single position data,as position data for use in control of the display module 13, andsuccessively acquires the single position data during a time period whenthe instant touch operation is performed (S307).

The control module 11 determines a component image for which a touchoperation has been performed referring to the screen information table12 b, and determines the type of the touch operation, based on theacquired position data (average position data or single position data)(S308). The control module 11 executes the process assigned to thecomponent image for which a touch operation has been performed, and tothe type of the touch operation, referring to the screen informationtable 12 b, and updates the screen of the display module 13 (S309).

FIG. 8 is a diagram for describing various operation examples to beperformed with respect to the display surface 3.

As shown in FIG. 8, when a web browser application is executed, a webscreen is displayed on the display surface 3. For instance, the webscreen is constituted of component images such as background images,icons, operation buttons, hypertexts, and thumbnail images.

As illustrated by the operation example 1 shown in FIG. 8, the user maytouch a position slightly displaced from an icon when the user tries toperform a tap operation with respect to the icon, and the initial touchposition may be located on a background image. In this case, thebackground image, which is a target image, resides at the initial touchposition, and the icon as another target image is present in thevicinity of the initial touch position. According to the display controlprocess in FIG. 7, it is determined that another target image resideswithin a predetermined area from the initial touch position, and averageposition data is used for determination of a touch operation. Accordingto this configuration, even when the initial touch position is displacedfrom the icon, immediately moving the touch position from the initialtouch position to the icon makes it possible to set the touch positionrepresented by the average position data as the position of the icon.Thus, it is possible to eliminate an erroneous detection such that thebackground image adjacent to the icon is operated, despite the user'sintention to operate the icon.

As illustrated by the operation example 2 shown in FIG. 8, when anoperation target is a small operation button, finger displacement mayoccur during a long tap operation of the operation button, and the touchposition may be deviated from the position of the operation button for ashort time. When the operation button is small, according to the displaycontrol process in FIG. 7, it is determined that the size of the targetimage is equal to or smaller than the predetermined threshold value, andaverage position data is used for determination of a touch operation.According to this configuration, even when the touch position isdeviated from the position of the operation button for a short timeduring a long tap operation, it is possible to keep the touch positionrepresented by the average position data on the operation button. Thus,it is possible to prevent invalidation of a long tap operation of anoperation button due to finger displacement.

As illustrated by the operation example 3 shown in FIG. 8, it is lesslikely that finger displacement may cause erroneous detection when aslide operation with respect to a background image is performed in orderto scroll a screen, in the case where an icon or the like is not presentnearby on the screen. In the aforementioned case, according to thedisplay control process in FIG. 7, it is determined that a touchoperation for scrolling a screen is assigned to a target image, andsingle position data is used for determination of a touch operation.When single position data is used, there is no delay when the singleposition data is started to be output from the touch detection module14, unlike the case of average position data. Accordingly, the user canquickly scroll the screen by a slide operation.

As described above, according to this embodiment, a status of a screenregarding a position where a touch operation is performed, and thevicinity of the touch position is determined, and position data suitablefor the status of the screen is used for detection of a touch operation,out of the single position data and the average position data. This isadvantageous in enhancing reliability of a touch operation, whilepreventing lowering of followability.

<Modification of Second Embodiment>

FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing a display control process according to amodification of the second embodiment.

In the modification, high average position data and low average positiondata are output from a panel controller 14 b in the same period. Thehigh average position data and the low average position data are asdescribed in the modification of the first embodiment.

When a user's touch operation is performed, and low average positiondata representing an initial touch position is output for the first timefrom a touch detection module 14, a control module 11 acquires thefirst-time low average position data (S311).

The control module 11 determines whether a target image is present at aninitial touch position, referring to the screen information table 12 b,based on the acquired low average position data (S312). When it isdetermined that a target image is present (S312: YES); and when it isdetermined that another target image is present within a predeterminedarea from the initial touch position (S313: YES), or the size of thetarget image is equal to or smaller than a predetermined threshold value(S314: YES), or a touch operation for scrolling a screen is not assignedto the target image (S315: NO), the control module 11 selects highaverage position data which is started to be output with a delay withrespect to the output of low average position data, as position data foruse in control of a display module 13, and successively acquires thehigh average position data during a time period when the instant touchoperation is performed (S316).

On the other hand, when it is determined that another target image isnot present within the predetermined area from the initial touchposition (S313: NO), and when it is determined that the size of thetarget image is not equal to or smaller than the predetermined thresholdvalue (S314: NO), and when a touch operation for scrolling a screen isassigned to the target image (S315: YES), the control module 11 selectslow average position data, as position data for use in control of thedisplay module 13, and successively acquires the low average positiondata during a time period when the instant touch operation is performed(S317).

The control module 11 determines a component image for which a touchoperation has been performed referring to the screen information table12 b, and determines the type of the touch operation, based on theacquired position data (high average position data or low averageposition data) (S318). The control module 11 executes the processassigned to the component image for which a touch operation has beenperformed, and to the type of the touch operation, referring to thescreen information table 12 b, and updates the screen of the displaymodule 13 (S319).

As described above, the modification is also advantageous in enhancingreliability of a touch operation, while preventing lowering offollowability, as well as the second embodiment. However, the effect ofpreventing lowering of followability may be slightly lowered, andreliability of a touch operation may be slightly enhanced, as a whole,as compared with the second embodiment.

<Others>

The embodiments and modifications of the present disclosure have beendescribed as above. The present disclosure, however, is not limited bythe foregoing embodiments and modifications, and various modificationsother than the above are applicable to the embodiments of the presentdisclosure.

For instance, in the first embodiment and in the second embodiment, bothof the single position data and the average position data are outputfrom the touch detection module 14. Alternatively, the touch detectionmodule 14 may be operable to output single position data, but may beinoperable to output average position data. In this configuration, aposition data output module is provided in the control module 11. Theposition data output module generates average position data by averagingpieces of single position data output from the touch detection module14, and outputs the generated average position data. Further, theposition data output module directly outputs the single position datafrom the touch detection module 14. Further alternatively, the positiondata output module provided in the control module 11 may be configuredto output high average position data and low average position data inthe same manner as the panel controllers 14 b in the modification of thefirst embodiment and in the modification of the second embodiment.

In the second embodiment, when the display control process is executed,the control module 11 executes all the processes i.e. the process ofStep S303 of determining whether a target image other than the targetimage residing at the initial touch position is present within apredetermined area from the initial touch position, the process of StepS304 of determining whether the size of the target image residing at theinitial touch position is equal to or smaller than a predeterminedthreshold value, and a process of Step S305 of determining whether atouch operation for scrolling a screen is assigned to the target imageresiding at the initial touch position. The disclosure is not limited tothe above. Alternatively, any one or two of the three processes of StepS303 to Step S305 may be executed in the display control process.

In the first embodiment, it is possible to configure such that aclassification list 12 a is generated, based on a user's settingoperation, in other words, it is possible to configure such that thepresence or absence of an averaging process with respect to each of theapplications is set, based on a user's setting operation.

FIG. 10A is a diagram showing a setting screen to be used when the userperforms a setting operation. FIG. 10B is a diagram illustrating aclassification list 12 a generated by a user's setting operation.

As illustrated in FIG. 10A, there is displayed, on a setting screen, alist of applications provided with checkboxes 101 on the side of therespective applications. Further, there is displayed, on the settingscreen, a window 102 for notifying the user to put a checkmark in thecheckbox 101 of a reliability-inclined application. Further, a settingbutton 103 is displayed on the setting screen.

When the user performs a tap operation on the checkbox 101 of areliability-inclined application, a control module 11 controls todisplay a checkmark in the checkbox 101. After selecting thereliability-inclined application, the user performs a tap operation ofthe setting button 103. When the tap operation of the setting button 103is performed, the control module 11 sets an application with acheckmark, i.e., a reliability-inclined application, as an applicationfor which an averaging process is executed; and sets an applicationwithout a checkmark, i.e., a followability-inclined application, as anapplication for which an averaging process is not performed. In thisway, as shown in FIG. 9B, the control module 11 generates theclassification list 12 a in a storage module 12.

Also, the classification list 12 a in the modification of the firstembodiment may be generated by a user's setting operation in the samemanner as described above.

Further alternatively, the control module 11 may control the displaymodule 13 to display a setting screen on which the user is allowed toset a new application as a reliability-inclined application or as afollowability-inclined application when the new application is installedin the mobile telephone 1. In this configuration, in response to auser's operation of setting a new application as a reliability-inclinedapplication, the control module 11 sets the new application as anapplication, in which an averaging process is executed, and registersthe application in the classification list 12 a. On the other hand, inresponse to a user's operation of setting a new application as afollowability-inclined application, the control module 11 sets the newapplication as an application, in which an averaging process is notperformed, and registers the application in the classification list 12a.

Further alternatively, the control module 11 may control the displaymodule 13 to display a list screen indicating that the applicationsinstalled in the mobile telephone 1 are set as reliability-inclinedapplications (applications in which an averaging process is executed),or followability-inclined applications (applications in which anaveraging process is not performed).

In the first embodiment and in the second embodiment, the disclosure isapplied to a smartphone-type mobile telephone. The disclosure is notlimited to the above. The disclosure may be applied to mobile telephonesof other types such as a straight type mobile telephone, a foldable typemobile telephone, and a slidable type mobile telephone.

Further, the disclosure is not limited to a touch-panel-type mobiletelephone, but is applicable to a variety of electronic devices having atouch detection function, such as a PDA (Personal Digital Assistant), atablet PC, an electronic book terminal, a mobile music player, and aportable TV of touch panel type.

The embodiments may be changed or modified in various ways as necessary,as far as such changes and modifications do not depart from the scope ofthe claims hereinafter defined.

What is claimed is:
 1. An electronic device, comprising: a displaymodule configured to display, on a display surface, a screen on which atouch operation is performed; a position detection module configured todetect a touch position on the display surface touched by a user; aposition data output module configured to output first position data andsecond position data based on position data on the touch positionsdetected by the position detection module; and a display control moduleconfigured to control the display module based on the first positiondata or the second position data output from the position data outputmodule, wherein the first position data is position data obtained byaveraging position data on the touch positions respectively detected atdetection timings, the second position data is position data on thetouch position detected at individual detection timing, or position dataobtained by averaging position data on the touch positions respectivelydetected at detection timings whose number is smaller than the number ofdetection timings used in obtaining the first position data, and thedisplay control module selects the first position data or the secondposition data to control the display module, based on a predeterminedselection condition.
 2. The electronic device according to claim 1,wherein the display control module selects the first position data orthe second position data based on an application program to be executed.3. The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the displaycontrol module selects the first position data or the second positiondata based on a status of the screen regarding an initial touch positionto be detected by the position detection module when the touch operationis performed, and regarding a vicinity of the initial touch position. 4.The electronic device according to claim 3, wherein the screen includesa target image, and the display control module selects the firstposition data or the second position data based on whether a targetimage other than the target image at the initial touch position ispresent within a predetermined area from the initial touch position. 5.The electronic device according to claim 3, wherein the screen includesa target image, and the display control module selects the firstposition data or the second position data based on whether the size ofthe target image at the initial touch position is smaller than apredetermined size.
 6. The electronic device according to claim 3,wherein the screen includes a target image, and the display controlmodule selects the first position data or the second position data basedon whether a touch operation for scrolling the screen is assigned to thetarget image at the initial touch position.
 7. A non-transitory storagemedium holding a program for a computer of an electronic deviceincluding: a display module configured to display, on a display surface,a screen on which a touch operation is performed; a position detectionmodule configured to detect a touch position on the display surfacetouched by a user; and a position data output module configured tooutput first position data and second position data based on positiondata on the touch positions detected by the position detection module,the first position data being position data obtained by averagingposition data on the touch positions respectively detected at detectiontimings, and the second position data being position data on the touchposition detected at individual detection timing, or position dataobtained by averaging position data on the touch positions respectivelydetected at detection timings whose number is smaller than the number ofdetection timings used in obtaining the first position data, the programproviding the computer with: a function of controlling the displaymodule based on the first position data or the second position dataoutput from the position data output module, and a function of selectingthe first position data or the second position data to control thedisplay module, based on a predetermined selection condition.
 8. Acontrol method for an electronic device including: a display moduleconfigured to display, on a display surface, a screen on which a touchoperation is performed; a position detection module configured to detecta touch position on the display surface touched by a user; and aposition data output module configured to output first position data andsecond position data based on position data on the touch positionsdetected by the position detection module, the first position data beingposition data obtained by averaging position data on the touch positionsrespectively detected at detection timings, and the second position databeing position data on the touch position detected at individualdetection timing, or position data obtained by averaging position dataon the touch positions respectively detected at detection timings whosenumber is smaller than the number of detection timings used in obtainingthe first position data, the control method comprising: selecting thefirst position data or the second position data to control the displaymodule, based on a predetermined selection condition; and controllingthe display module based on the selected position data.